Just this week, a Springdale veterinary clinic has seen three cases of bobcat fever, two of which have been fatal.

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The parasite, known as Cytaux, has a number of symptoms. If not treated quickly, cats can die in just a matter of days.

"In cats, there is disease called cytauxzoon. Somewhat of a lay name, I guess is bobcat fever,” veterinarian Dr. Eric Steinlage said. “(It) can be quite lethal to a very high percentage of cats that get it."

Vets said the disease can be caused by a bite from an infected tick.

The parasite got its name from the thinking that a tick would have to bite a bobcat, then bite a domestic cat, but it has recently been discovered that cats are already carriers of the parasite.

In Arkansas, cats are more prone to the disease because of the number of ticks in the area.

Symptoms include poor to no appetite, lethargy, breathing hard and moderate to severe pain.

There is no vaccine for bobcat fever.

Vets urge cat owners to use tick prevention, such as flea and tick collar, and to keep cats indoors during tick season.

If they happen to go outside, cat owners should check their pets regularly for ticks.

"There is probably more tick-borne diseases that we don't know about than we do, and in people too," Steinlage said.

Dog and cat owners are also cautioned to look out for tick paralysis, which can also be fatal and has been seen locally.